Dave Bautista Joins Cast of Blade Runner Sequel

Guardians of the Galaxy and Spectre star and mixed martial arts fighter Dave Bautista has been cast in the highly anticipated follow-up to sci-fi classic Blade Runner.

Rumors had been swirling about Bautista’s involvement in the film, which is set to be directed by Denis Villeneuve (Sicario), with principal photography beginning this July. Today, those rumors were confirmed, marking Bautista as the fourth major name attached to the project—Ryan Gosling, Harrison Fordand Robin Wright are also set to star.

The sequel picks up decades after the original film, with the ageless Ford reprising his role as Rick Deckard. No details are being shared about Bautista’s character, except to say that he will play an “important supporting role.”

Plot details, too, are being kept under wraps. The film was written by Hampton Fancher and Michael Green. Writing credits for the original film go to Fancher and David Peoples, who based their story on Philip K. Dick’s novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

Warner Bros. will handle the North American release of the film, while Sony Pictures Releasing International will be charged with overseas distribution. The Blade Runner sequel is slated to arrive on Jan. 12, 2018.